Elections Intelligence

California 42nd District

DEFENDED SEATSafe DREDISTRICTEDWhy the lines changedCalifornia voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025, which replaced the commission-drawn map with one drawn by the Legislature for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. It becomes much less Democratic, going from Harris +32.4 to Harris +13.1 in the 2024 presidential vote.Source ↗

Robert Garcia (D) has held this seat since 2023 and is running for re-election; the district was redrawn in August 2025.

PresidentialD+32.4→D+13.1Same ballots, new mapThis district’s 2024 presidential vote, counted on the old lines (D+32.4) and the new (D+13.1). Same ballots, new map.
Robert Garcia Incumbent
97.9¢
Party market · checked 2:09 PM ETView on Kalshi ↗
4.7¢
Brian Burley Challenger

FTP Race Signal

FTP Race SignalA composite of market, polling and money. The prediction-market price anchors it; a polling average moves it: the last 30 days, or the three most recent pollsters when fewer polled. Polls paid for by a candidate, party or allied group move 2 points toward the other side and count half. When the three most recent independent pollsters each have the race within three points, it is a Toss-up unless the market is already decisive. Fundraising counts only at a five-to-one gap. Past results are context, not inputs. A rating changes only when the evidence clears the line.

This district was redrawn in August 2025; the 2024 result on the previous lines does not describe it. The market prices the new seat at 97.9¢ Democratic.

Safe D
Safe DLikely DLean DToss-upLean RLikely RSafe R
Market · Safe DD 97.9¢: traders' price for a Democratic hold. Prior result · Safe DD+36.28 in 2024. Fundraising · Lean DD 11.3-to-1 in receipts.

No public polls. The market favors Garcia.

As of October 12.

Market

BandPRICEToss-up50¢ to 65¢Lean65¢ to 82¢Likely82¢ to 95¢Safe95¢ and above
D 97.9¢

Kalshi party market · checked 2:09 PM ET

View market on Kalshi ↗

Polling

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 10Likely10 to 20Safe20 and above
—

Prior result

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 12Likely12 to 25Safe25 and above
D+36.3

Robert Garcia (D)

68.1% to 31.9% · 2024 general election · previous district linesPrevious district linesCalifornia voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025, which replaced the commission-drawn map with one drawn by the Legislature for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. It becomes much less Democratic, going from Harris +32.4 to Harris +13.1 in the 2024 presidential vote.Source ↗

def. John Briscoe (R). Margin verified against retrieved official results.

Fundraising

BandRATIO TO 1Parity1 to 5Lean5 and above
D 11.3 to 1

Raised 2025 to 2026 · thru Jun 30

Robert Garcia$2.62M ↗$1.38M cash
Brian Burley$231.4K ↗$5.5K cash

Total receipts in the 2025 to 2026 two-year cycle, through June 30, 2026.

The general election is on November 3, which is 22 days away.